Australia's West Coast with Ponant - Peregrine Travel Centre

Description

PONANT invites you to uncover the West Coast of Australia on this brand new 8-day itinerary onboard Le Soléal. Discover why this area is renowned for its spectacular coral coastlines, pristine beaches, turquoise waters, and abundant wildlife, providing guests with once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.

Your first stop, Geraldton, is located on Western Australia’s spectacular Coral Coast, and has established itself as a contemporary coastal hub of cafés, shops, street art and galleries. The city boasts pristine beaches, making it a popular spot soaking up the sun, as well as a strong cultural and historical connection with awe-inspiring architecture from the missionary era, a special memorial to HMAS Sydney II and opportunities to learn about the ancient Yamaji culture.

In Monkey Mia Reserve you may get the chance to enjoy one of Australia’s best-known wildlife experiences by getting up close to wild bottlenose dolphins. You may also see dugongs, sharks, rays, turtles and a variety of fish in the water. With its white, sandy beaches, turquoise waters, rust-red sand dunes and abundant wildlife, Shark Bay’s colourful and diverse landscapes, rare fauna and flora and world class examples of Earth’s ecological processes are what make it a truly remarkable place.

Jurien Bay Marine Park and its immediate surrounds is the only major breeding area for Australian sea lions along the western coast of Australia. As well as major sea lion and seabird breeding areas, the marine park contains biological communities, populated with a mix of temperate and tropical plants and animals, courtesy of the Leeuwin Current.

On your return to Fremantle, you will have the opportunity to experience this truly enriching small town. With strong Maritime, convict, and colonial history, buzzing markets, lively bars, and casual street cafes, it will give you a taste of 21st century life with the locals.

Trip Name

Australia's West Coast with Ponant

Days

Overview

Vessel Type: Luxury Small Ship Length: 142 metres Passenger Capacity: 264 Built: 2013 Sailing under the French flag, this magnificent yacht of only 132 staterooms and suites, with balconies, joined in 2013. You will be enchanted by the contemporary decor inspired by the luxury yachting world, with fluid lines and a modern colour scheme combining natural wood with shades of grey and white. A refined ambience is enhanced by the quality of the workmanship and materials: white Corian counters in the lobby contrast with the warmth of leather to recall a boat's hull, while the central scuplture of enamelled pieces takes its inspiration from the sea. In the loungebar, the carpet picks up a tennis stripe theme symbolising a certain idea of cruising, one synonomous with French elegance and a chic seaside spirit.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Day 1 FREMANTLE

The vibrant city of Fremantle blends the old with the new, creating an enriching cultural experience. Maritime, convict and colonial history can be explored in one of the best-preserved examples of a 19th century port streetscape on Earth, while buzzing markets, lively bars and casual street cafés give you a taste of 21st century life with the locals. If you're hitting the heritage trail, be sure to include a visit to the Western Australian Maritime Museum, World Heritage listed Fremantle Prison and Western Australia's oldest public building, the Roundhouse.

Day 2 - Day 2 GERALDTON

Located on Western Australia’s spectacular Coral Coast, Geraldton has established itself as a contemporary coastal hub of cafés, shops, street art and galleries. The city’s beaches and sunny climate make it a hot-spot for water sport enthusiasts and visitors looking to soak up the sun on pristine beaches. Cultural enlightenment can also be found if you take time to immerse yourself in Geraldton's rich heritage. Learn about the ancient Yamaji culture. Step inside the Western Australian Museum – Geraldton to see the tragic stories revealed by relics of shipwrecks. Have a moment's silence at the magnificent HMAS Sydney II memorial to remember the 645 crew members lost in 1941. Or be transported to the Spanish missionary era by the awe-inspiring architectural work of Monsignor John Hawes at St Francis Xavier Cathedral.

Day 3 - Day 3 AT SEA

During your day at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This day without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.

Day 4 - Day 4 MONKEY MIA

Over 70% of the Shark Bay World Heritage Area is marine environments and many of the reasons for its World Heritage listing are within these waters. The shallow and mostly protected bays host over 10,000 dugongs; the world’s largest seagrass beds; and representatives of the earth’s oldest lifeforms, stromatolites. Wild bottlenose dolphins visit the shore at Monkey Mia Reserve, creating one of Australia's best-known wildlife experiences. You may also see sharks, rays, turtles and a variety of fish in the water. You will have the opportunity to experience the wild bottlenose dolphins early in the morning before exploring the area’s natural and cultural history along the Wulyibidi Yaninyina trail.

Day 5 - Days 5 - 6 SHARK BAY WORLD HERITAGE AREA

With its white, sandy beaches, turquoise waters, rust-red sand dunes and abundant wildlife, Shark Bay became Western Australia’s first Wold Heritage listed area in 1991. The colourful and diverse landscapes, rare fauna and flora and world class examples of Earth’s ecological processes are what qualify Shark Bay for World Heritage listing – making it a truly remarkable place. You will have the opportunity to sail past the location of the first recorded European landing on Australia’s west coast at Cape Inscription where in 1616 Dirk Hartog left evidence of his landing in the form of a pewter plate inscribed with details of his journey.

Day 6 - Day 7 ABROLHOS ISLANDS MARINE PARK

The Abrolhos Islands Maine Park consists of three main clusters of islands that stretch from north to south across 100 kilometres of ocean, and includes the Wallabi Group, Easter Group and Pelsaert Group. Established as a marine park in 1983, the waters of the Abrolhos are famous for colourful coral, crystal clear waters and large breeding colonies of seabirds. Here, the southward flowing Leeuwin current has created a meeting place for tropical and temperate sea life. In July 2019 the Islands were declared a national park for their ecological and historical significance. You will have the opportunity to explore East Wallabi Island and its fringing reefs.

Day 7 - Day 8 JURIEN BAY MARINE PARK

Jurien Bay Marine Park located 150 kilometres north of Perth, was named by Captain Nicolas Baudin aboard the Géographe in honour of the French naval administrator Charles Marie Vicomte Jurien. The marine park surrounds dozens of ecologically important islands that contain rare and endangered animals found nowhere else in the world. The marine park and its immediate surrounds is the only major breeding area for Australian sea lions along the western coast of Australia. It is also a primary breeding ground for seabirds and is populated with a mix of temperate and tropical plants and animals, courtesy of the Leeuwin Current.

Day 8 - Day 9 FREMANTLE

Day 9 - Please Note:

Itineraries are subject to change.

Trip Dates

Start	End	Price From	Room Type

Inclusions

Visit the World Heritage-listed area of Shark Bay, Jurien Bay marine park and Western Australia’s newest national park
Discover the only breeding colony of Australian Sea Lions on the Western coast
Experience the colourful coral, crystal clear waters and large breeding colonies of seabirds at the Abrolhos Islands
Learn of the horrifying tale of the Batavia Mutiny, regarded as the largest and most gruesome mutiny in the world
Sail in the footsteps of the early European explorers
Witness one of Australia's best – known wildlife experiences at Monkey Mia in Shark Bay world Heritage Area
Walk on the beaches of Dirk Hartog Island and visit the historic site at Cape Inscription